As I had been watching SG-1 saga throughout the seasons (1-9) I couldn't help but to wonder whether what O'Neil and others did was correct. In many times, they had trembled over the culture of other races simply cos it looked barbaric to them.

For example :-

The changes to the Jaffa society. They change it from a Gou'ld followers to self-conscious society which has to rely on drug for the rest of their existence.

Bring technology to less advance races (most humans on other World) which could lead toward war and strife (which what happened in Stargate Universe where a new human fraction were born).

Promoting commonly followed democratic ideology which is flawed (even in our World).

Frankly speaking, I have more respect toward Star Trek due to Prime Directive which clearly stated that advance race cannot interfere directly to the affairs of lesser (advanced) race. Therefore, was it right for SG-1 to be trampling around the Galaxy and forcing their beliefs onto other races (even so they are humans)???

gobi1972 - You make a good point. Star Trek was better about non-interference and it was a big part of the show where they wrestle with the inclination to help, versus knowing that rendering said help to a species/group that lack the experience to know what to do with either advanced technology, or what they really need can cause more harm than good ("The greatest harm can result from the best intentions." and all that).

IMO, I think sometimes (if not most of the time) the various Stargate crews did do more good than harm, but there definitely were cases where they made a right mess of things.

I think freeing the Jaffa was definitely a good thing, because the Goa'uld are clearly not fair leaders. At best, they suppress freedoms, at worst they're mad tyrants. It's not really the Stargate crew's fault that the Jaffa splintered off into factions the way they did, though it's not surprising (old hatreds aren't easily forgotten, and unexpected freedom can go to one's head). Sometimes the Stargate crew simply give others the opportunity to help themselves, and it just backfires (which is a big part of the reason for the prime directive, yes). In the case of the Jaffa, there were plenty that wanted the freedom in the first place, and the Stargate crew just helped things along. Besides, the Jaffa were the strong right arm of the Goa'uld, and without them the Goa'uld were severely crippled. It really ended up being a choice between obliterating the Jaffa, or freeing them and this is shown in certain episodes.

One of the problems with Prime Directives is - they can lead to morale and ethical conflicts when comes to situation where following orders WILL get someone hurt (or worse). In such situation, is it morale and ethical for an advance race to sit by and do nothing even so they have the technology to do something?

Personally, I cannot say much cos this questions could require a debate on its own. And as humans start exploring the Universe (maybe in few hundred years to come), this question will be debated in our world and society as it is in the movies.

As for the Goa'uld, I have to disagree with you. I personally like the Goa'uld - I see them (Yes, I know they are snakes) as a unique species with simple design and intellectual capability to exist in symbiotic relationship with other races. However, their main downfalls could be their pride and arrogance. They had reimagined themselves as "gods" toward a lesser beings, which they forced to serve them as servants, vessals and slaves (as well as millitary personals).

However, IF pride and arrogance are their fault, humans are guilty of the same sins just 100 years ago. Are they any different from Westerners who had came to Asia and stole from Asians the vast resources and riches? Are their empire any different than that of America, which was built on the backs of the black slaves and Chinese (among other) immigrants? Fair to say, almost every races on the Planet had one time shared the same pride and ignorance as the Goa'uld did once.

In my opinion, IF the Goa'uld were taught to change their opinions toward humans and co-existed with humans as equals, both sides could have had better relationship and civilizations. But now, Goa'uld are things of the past and the Proud Jaffa are nothing more than drug-using people, dreaming of a honorable life.

I think it was Humans' fault that the Jaffa become a splintered cell. Humans showed them (who never had) freedom too fast and too quick. Humans had shown them technology without first establishing the proper mentality toward using that technology. Humans had taught them to hate the Goa'uld as their enslavers instead of teaching them that the true reasons the Jaffa were enslaved was due to their own mental weakness.